ROADMAP

Roadmaps aim to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's work in order to allow them to provide feedback and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have.

Title of the initiative

Communication on the Global Approach to Research, Innovation, Education and Youth

Lead DG – responsible unit

RTD.H

Likely Type of initiative

Commission communication

Indicative Planning

Q2 2020

Additional Information

-

This Roadmap is provided for information purposes only and its content might change. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content. All elements of the initiative described by the Roadmap, including its timing, are subject to change.

A. Context, Problem definition and Subsidiarity Check

Context [max 10 lines]

The current strategy for international cooperation on research and innovation between Europe and the rest of the world was set out in a Commission Communication in 2012. In the light of geopolitical changes, the COVID-19 crisis and the Recovery Plan, Europe’s strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation must be refocussed, taking account of the way in which global powers and partners interact and of the potential erosion and fragmentation of the global order, with consequent threats to the EU’s technological and industrial autonomy. 

There is a strong and urgent case for strengthened multilateralism and cooperation with like-minded countries to tackle global challenges in support of the Union’s strategic priorities for the Recovery and for making Europe Stronger in the World. This new Communication, included in the Commission Work Programme for 2021, will set out the revised strategy for international cooperation in Research and Innovation, with the support of education and youth.

Problem the initiative aims to tackle [max 25 lines]

Europe’s prosperity and the well-being of its citizens depends on our capacity to develop and implement sustainable responses to global environmental, economic and social challenges, to protect citizens’ health and to deliver the green and digital transitions. Europe cannot do this on its own: developing and implementing solutions requires the joined efforts of the best scientific and entrepreneurial minds from around the world.

New opportunities to strengthen partnerships with different regions of the world, both those close to Europe, such as the Western Balkans and the Neighbourhood, and other regions further afield, including Africa, offer the chance to tackle global challenges and to take practical action to promote a shared recovery.

At the same time, the global balance of political, economic and cultural power has shifted markedly in the last decade. These shifts are putting into question long-standing assumptions about EU interests and at the same time opening up the possibility for Europe to forge stronger alliances with like-minded countries. Cooperation in research and innovation must promote Europe’s open strategic autonomy, respect shared values and ethical standards to avoid a race to the bottom, and increase the degree of reciprocity and level playing fields between Europe and its partners.

The aim of the Communication is to provide a strategic approach to the European Union’s global interests in relation to research and innovation, in light of new challenges. It will also form the basis of the programming of the international cooperation under the Horizon Europe programme, while enhancing synergies and complementarity with international education and youth activities, including those supported by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The new strategy will be delivered through policy and programme interventions, which need to be coordinated between the Member States, where most international cooperation takes place, and the Union.

Basis for EU intervention (legal basis and subsidiarity check) [max 10 lines]

The EU and its Members States have shared parallel competence in the area of research and technological development in accordance with Article 4(3) TFEU. On the basis of Article 180 (b) TFEU, the EU promotes cooperation in the field of research, technological development and demonstration with third countries and international organisations, complementing the activities carried out in the Member States.

In accordance with Art. 6 of the TFEU, Member States retain full competence in the fields of education and youth, whereas the EU intervenes primarily to support, coordinate or complement their action. In addition, on the basis of Art. 165 of the TFEU, the EU and its Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and international organisations.

The new strategy will be delivered at different levels: by the EU, through its participation in multilateral research and innovation platforms dedicated to global challenges on climate, the environment, renewable energies, health, etc.; through EU bilateral agreements with key partner countries, including association agreements; through the Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps programmes; by Member States in their own policy initiatives and funding programmes; and by international partners. This requires a clear political commitment to the strategy in order to maximise the impact on global challenges and to safeguard EU interests. The transparent presentation of the new strategy will secure a common understanding among all actors and so promote its successful delivery.

B. What does the initiative aim to achieve and how [max 25 lines]

The Communication primarily aims to update the current research and innovation international strategy (dating from 2012), adapting it to geopolitical changes and to the key strategic priorities of the Union.

While the current international strategy for research and innovation fosters a general openness to cooperation with partners anywhere in the world, with a thematic focus adapted to their capacity and needs, the new international strategy is an opportunity to:

·Rebalance the EU’s global approach to research and innovation to adapt it to geopolitical changes and the promotion of European interests, including its open strategic autonomy, based on a level playing field and greater reciprocity in access to research, innovation and education programmes;

·Reflect and project internationally the Commission’s green, digital and health related priorities;

·Reinforce EU values globally by launching a multilateral dialogue on global principles for open and fair international cooperation, in close cooperation with the Member States under the European Research Area and the Bologna Process;

·Maintain an open and multilateral approach to cooperation, to respond to shared challenges. Pooling global efforts, the Commission can use its political influence and its financial capacities to foster partnerships/cooperation to deliver new solutions to green, digital and health challenges;

·Enhance complementarity with international cooperation in education and youth to support the attainment of the Union’s overall objectives.

The new Global Approach to Research, Innovation, Education and Youth could be delivered through a stronger involvement of Member States in the design of European level cooperation, and the alignment of national and European cooperation with third countries, to mobilise a critical mass of efforts in science and education.

C. Better regulation

Consultation of citizens and stakeholders [max 10 lines]

The views of Member States, international partners and stakeholders have been, and will continue to be, gathered through consultations dedicated to international cooperation in R&I. This includes the EU R&I Days; the Strategic Forum for International Cooperation under the European Research Area and other fora of Member State representatives; Joint Science, Technology and Innovation Committees and relevant policy dialogues with third countries and regions; and dedicated stakeholder workshops and events

Evidence base and data collection [max 10 lines]

The Communication will be informed by evidence emerging from stakeholder activities and from past evaluations whenever relevant..